Loading...
06-23-2004 - Budget Workshop (.) U CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER WORKSHOP JUNE 23, 2004 6:00 P.M. COMMUNITY CENTER MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Mayor Schmidt called the Workshop to order at 6:00 p.m in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor Donald Schmidt Councilman James Brown Councilman Dennis Vincenzi Councilwoman Harriet Rhodes Councilwoman Judith Lichter City Manager Kenneth Hooper City Clerk Susan Wadsworth Present Present Present Present Present Present Present MEETING PURPOSE The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the FY 2004/2005 Enterprise Funds and General Fund budget. City Manager Hooper informed the Council today he received a letter from Florida Recycling saying they wish to withdraw from the contract. They have agreed to work with the City during a phase out. The second bid was Southard. His understanding is they are sort of interested at a higher rate. The other is to rebid the project. They are going to do some research and speak to Southard and put the RFP together if Council wants to rebid on July 19th. There was a brief discussion regarding Southard's interest in charging a higher rate. City Manager Hooper explained they have described there is an annual escalator in their original bid and they are interested in whatever their bid would have been with the two years since the project was bid. He asked Council if they are willing to do that and it is that annual escalator that Florida Recycling has received, are they interested in him shifting it to Southard for the same price Florida Recycling would be receiving. Councilwoman Rhodes has no problem with this. u u Councilman Vincenzi feels the proper thing to do would be to rewrite the proposal and outline exactly what they want done and re-bid it. City Manager Hooper agreed to bring this back on July 19th. City Manager Hooper informed the Council he would like to get through the whole budget tonight. City Manager Hooper went over the overall process for the budget. He further commented on union negotiations. City Manager Hooper explained the budget in front of Council is a balanced budget with preliminary numbers. It comes in at a millage rate of 6.45 instead of 6.95. He recommended to Council to do a half mill reduction this year. There was a discussion regarding there being some assurance that there will be an effort to reduce the tax burden in some format or the projects on the November ballot may not pass as readily as they could. City Manager Hooper further explained if there is a tax increase to pay for the capital projects he is asking Council that they want to be able to say they will do everything they can to make it so that is not a net increase. The goal next year is to lower that number so that is a net non increase for tax. City Manager Hooper further commented on property values increasing. We are looking at a 14 1/2% to 15% increase in value. City Manager Hooper then went over the Enterprise Funds. He commented on two capital projects that are not included in the budget that will be added once the engineering studies and efforts are done. City Manager Hooper then went over the Refuse and Stormwater Budgets. He further answered questions presented by Councilwoman Lichter and Mayor Schmidt. Mayor Schmidt asked for a list of what other cities are charging for stormwater. City Manager Hooper explained most cities are charging between $6 and $9. He will be talking about a charge of $8. There was a discussion regarding the stormwater and flooding that occurs on Riverside Drive. There was further discussion regarding possible drainage plan options. They will be looking at creative ways to help finance this. Page -2- Council Workshop June 23, 2004 . o Q City Manager Hooper then went over the General Fund Budget. There was a discussion regarding the Reserve Account that is specified by the Charter. City Manager Hooper then went over the list of Capital Needs. Fire Chief Barlow answered questions presented by Mayor Schmidt and Councilwoman Lichter. City Manager Hooper then went over the funds for the Airpark Road realignment at the request of Councilman Vincenzi. He answered questions presented by Councilwoman Lichter, Councilwoman Rhodes and Councilman Vincenzi. There was a brief discussion regarding the new entrance signs into the City. Leisure Services Director Corder answered questions presented by Mayor Schmidt and Councilwoman Rhodes regarding the ampi-theater. City Manager Hooper further commented on some of the grants the City will be receiving to help pay for some of the City projects. There was a brief discussion regarding the beautification of Indian River Boulevard. City Manager Hooper then went over the Requested Promotional Items and answered questions presented by Councilwoman Rhodes, Councilman Vincenzi, Councilwoman Lichter and Mayor Schmidt. City Manager Hooper agreed to increase the Promotional Items amount from $10,000 to $15,000. City Manager Hooper then went over the General Fund Budget Summary with regard to Revenues and answered questions presented by Councilwoman Rhodes and Councilman Brown. City Manager Hooper then went over the City Council Budget and answered questions presented by Mayor Schmidt. City Manager Hooper then went over the City Manager Budget and answered questions presented by Councilwoman Rhodes and Councilwoman Lichter. There was a ten-minute recess at this time. Page -3- Council Workshop June 23, 2004 u u City Manager Hooper proceeded to go over the Finance Department Budget. Finance Director Williams and City Manager Hooper answered questions presented by Councilwoman Rhodes and Councilwoman Lichter. City Manager Hooper then went over the Planning and Zoning Department Budget and the Economic Development Board Budget. City Manager Hooper then went over the Personnel Budget, the City Clerk Budget, Other Governmental Services Budget. Finance Director Williams answered questions presented by Councilwoman Rhodes regarding Repair and Maintenance under the Other Governmental Services Budget. City Manager Hooper answered questions presented by Councilwoman Lichter regarding the Street Lighting Expenses. City Manager Hooper then went over the Police Department Budget and answered questions presented by Councilwoman Rhodes. City Manager Hooper then went over the Fire Department Budget, the Building Department Budget, the Code Enforcement Budget. There was a brief discussion regarding parking tickets being issued for cars parked in the City rights-of-way. City Manager Hooper answered questions presented by Councilwoman Lichter and Councilwoman Rhodes regarding using volunteers to find violations and the problems that occur. City Manager Hooper then went over the Public Works Department Budget, the Leisure Services Department Budget. City Manager Hooper and Leisure Services Director Corder answered questions presented by Councilwoman Lichter and Councilwoman Rhodes. City Manager Hooper then went over the Debt Service Fund. City Manager Hooper informed Council the millage rate will be on the July 19th agenda to advertise the maximum amount. He will be asking for six and a half. Page -4- Council Workshop June 23, 2004 (.) <.) Councilwoman Rhodes asked City Manager Hooper to see what would happen if they went with the roll back rate, which he agreed to do. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilwoman Rhodes moved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Bloomer Page -5- Council Workshop June 23, 2004